Town of Warwick
Selectboard
September 19, 2011
Minutes
Members present: Patricia Lemon, Nick Arguimbau, Dawn Magi
Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa
Fratangelo Calcari, Jon Calcari, Jared Robinson (Athol Daily News)
I. Call to Order
Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in Town Hall.
Minutes
Arguimbau added the following sentence to the second paragraph of item
IV.2: Chief Shoemaker asked that Joe Powling be appointed as a Warwick
Police Officer and stated that Mr. Powling has all the necessary
qualifications and is fully competent.
Young pointed out that in the first line of the third paragraph of item
IV.1, the word "property" was changed to "CR".
Lemon MOVED to accept the minutes of September 6, 2011 as amended.
Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0.
III. Presentations and Discussions
1. Appointment to Cemetery Commission-- Orange Road resident Alana Day
had volunteered to serve on the Cemetery Commission. Her appointment
would make a full committee.
Lemon MOVED to appoint Alana Day to the Cemetery Commission until the
next Town Election. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of
3-0-0.
2. Selectboard Reports -- Lemon said that she attended an FRTA
Advisory Committee meeting. She said that the new station and building
at the end of bank Row in Greenfield is expected to be open by January
of 2012. Lemon noted that the amount the towns pay to the FRTA will be
reconsidered, and that North Quabbin towns, including Warwick, will feed
into the new train.
Arguimbau asked for an update on the Fire Department and the new
Public safety building. Young said that nothing had been decided as
of yet but agreed to place the issues on an upcoming agenda. Young
noted that while the Firemen's Association had voted to spend up to
$25,000.00 to conduct a feasibility study, also under consideration
is the creation of a shell building to house the six fire trucks and
continued fundraising for private donations for future build out.
Young pointed out that the Firemen's Association is working on the
Public safety building issue. The Firemen's Association is a
non-profit organization separate from the Warwick Fire Department.
Arguimbau said that he would like to have a joint meeting with the
Selectboard and Fire Department to hash out the matter and discuss
reasonable expectations.
Coordinator Report -- Young reported that some progress has been made
regarding the Severance matter. He said that while the judge failed to
show at the hearing on Housing Court on September 16th, a mediator
assisted in some agreements being reached. Young said that the
Severances claim not to live at the Hockanum Road property, and agreed
to submit to inspections at any time. Their expired building permit was
extended for two months by the Building Inspector. Young said that the
possibility of entering into a receivership program may be a solution
that may be addressed when both parties return to court in October for
review.
Arguimbau asked Young to report on the other properties. Young said
that the Gallagher and Dyer special permit applications to the ZBA
have been received; with hearings scheduled for Thursday, October 27
at 7pm. Young said he would check on the other structures in
question and give a report at a future meeting.
The Selectboard will submit a message to Dog Owners for inclusion in
the October Community Newsletter. Arguimbau wanted it on record that
his dog "Grace" has been loose for close to a year. Young said that
as long as she remains loose on his property, he is not in
violation. Animal Control Officer Rosa Fratangelo Calcari said that
she has received no complaints on this dog being loose.
The message to dog owners is as follows:
Attention: Dog Owners
The Selectboard has noticed an increase in the number of complaints
regarding loose or otherwise unrestrained dogs in Town. The problem
has resulted in injury to people and has had the effect of
restricting resident's ability to walk on our streets or even on
their own land. It is not allowed for your dog to be on the land of
another, or in the public way, unless under your control. Dogs may
not bother people or livestock, It is not alright to let your animal
out to run even for a few minutes unrestrained. If they stray off
your land and are not under your control you are in addition to
being a lousy neighbor, violating the law. For the safety of your
animal companion and of your fellow townspeople, please make sure
that you keep your dog restrained whenever it is outdoors.
Unrestrained dogs are in danger of being hit by motor vehicles.
While you may feel your animal is not a threat to people, many folks
are afraid of them.
Please do your part to comply with this request so that you don't
get charged a fine and we don't have to hold more nuisance dog
hearings.
Sincerely,
Warwick Selectboard
4. New and Other Business-- ACO Calcari gave the Board an update on
the Kyle Whittier nuisance dog issue. She said that she had verified
with Town Clerk Jeannette Fellows that Whittier did not license "Dozer".
Calcari said that she had spoken with Whittier by telephone, and was
told that he and Dozer were living in Athol, but would be returning to
Warwick sometime in the near future. Calcari reminded Whittier of the
Selectboard order to license his dog, gave him the contact information
and office hours for the Town Clerk, and informed him of the license
fee. She said that Whittier was told he must have "Dozer" licensed
before bringing the dog back to Warwick.
V. Adjournment
At 6:40 pm, Arguimbau MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Lemon SECONDED.
Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0.
Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari